van gorder



June 22 1926. 1,589,447

8. VAN GORDER MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fil March 3, 1924 2SheeTs-Sheet l INVENTOR Be /er Van Gorar,

ATTORNEY June 22 1926. 1,589,447

B. 'VAN GORDER MECHANICAL MUSI CAL INSTRUMENT F e March 3, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 1x J \N 3 & a v A N 3 m a 5 & N N

INVENTUR Bel/fer VanGorder, W

Afro/Mfr Patented June 22, 1926 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

BEVIER VAN GORDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESER BROS, INC., 0]?

NEXV YORK, N. Y., A CORLPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT My invention relates generally topneumatically operated musical instruments, such as player-pianos,organs and other similar instruments in which a perforated music sheettravels over a tracker-bar and in which power for operating the variousmechanical parts is derived from the main wind-chest placed underexhaust pressure.

My invention is particularly concerned with an improved attachment bywhich various changes in expression may be more readily controlled,either directly or indirectly, by means 01" an improved automaticattachment embodied in the customary main reservoir bellows. In certaintypes of mechanical musical instruments operated by exhaust or vacuumpressure, such air tension has been produced by a combination offootoperated pumping bellows and an electric motor directly rotating anexhaust fan or with feeder-bellows actuated by the motor, in which theaction of the foot-operated pumping bellows is independent of the motorexhaust, though both are directly connected with the main player act-ionwindchest so that the toot-operated pumping bellows may be utilized asan expression derice.

The aim of my invention is, among other things, to provide a simplifiedyet effective automatic attachment mounted within the usual mainreservoir bellows whereby such main reservoir bellows may be entire- 1ycut oii' from the usual exhaust connections while the motor-operatedexhaust devices are in operation and connected to the player actionpneumatics through the wind chest, though allowing such main reservoirbellows to be automatically connected with the wind chest when the fulleffect of a powerful action of the pumping bellows is used in accentingcertain notes or performing tortissimo passages when the motor-operatedexhaustdevices are. not in operative connection with the player actionthrough the wind chest.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention comprisesthe various catin'es or construction and combination parts and the modeof operation hersinafter described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a player-piano withparts broken away and the front casing removed showing an .embodiment ofmy invention in somewhat diagrammatic form in connection withreproducing devices regulated by the musicsheet in conjunction withsuitable ports in the tracker-bar;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my improved attachment taken on the line22 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction or the arrow;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of such attachment; and

Fig. at is a sectional view taken on th line ett of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the. arrow.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly to Fig. 1, the player-pianochosen for a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the case 5with the tracker-bar 6 having the pneumatic control openings 7 fourbeing shown in Fig. 1) each connected by separate tubes 8 with thecustomary primary valve box 9 mounted on the rcproducer box 10 fastenedto "the inner side of the case 5 as shown. The electric motor 11operating an exhaust fan or bellows is secured within the case 5 asshown in Fig. l, and the pipe 12 connects the motor exhaust devices withthe main player action wind-chest 13 which is connected through the port1% to the gate-box 14 which is also connected through the port 23 to themain reservoir bellows 15 having the reserve reservoir bellows 16connected thereto as shownin Fig. 1. The main reservoir bellows 15 hasconnected therewith the auxiliary pneumatic 15 as shown in Figs. 1 and4. The wind chest 13 is also connected to the pumping bellows 17 byvalved connections 17 and is operated, as usual, by the pedals 18. Oneend of the gate box 14L is connected by the pipe 19 with the wind motorsnot shown), and from the opposite end of the gate box 14 the pipe 20extends by the conduit 4 to the player action-chest so for the usualhammer pneumatics 46 comprised in the player-action. The pipe 21connects the reproducer box 10 with the pipe to vary the air tension inthe action chest in the usual manner. The tempo valve seat 4'? havingthe graduated port 48 to regulate the speed of the wind-motor (notshown) is fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 4.

All of these parts thus far referred to are constructed and operated inthe usual man ner and need not be further described as they do notconstitute in themselves the present improvements, but are part of theusual player-piano construction.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the front panel 22 ofthe main reser voir bellows 15 is connected, as usual with the playeraction wind chest 13 by port 2;, which port is opened and closed by thefollowing devices: To the inner face of the panel 22 a block 24 isfastened by screws 2!) and spaced from the block is the swinging valve26 adapted to close the port 23 when the valve 26 is forced against theface of the panel 22. Suitably secured to the under side of the valve 26is the washer 2? formed of felt or other suitable material to enable thevalve 26 to have a tight fit over the port 23 the washer 27 preferably:rtends under the block 24 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to form thenecessary hinge for the valve 26. The lower end of the valve 26 isslotted at 28 within which slot is the guide pin 29. The valve 26 isnormally maintained in raised or open position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4by the leaf spring 30 fulcrun'iing on th block 24 with one end fastenedto the block 24 by screw 31 while the other end is secured to the valve26 by screw 32 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The valve 26 has the bleedpassage 33 to the port 23 which passage is normally opened but is closedby the valve 84 fastened to the under side of the spring arm 35 securedby screws 36 to the top of the valve 26. The end 37 of the spring arm isadapted to be pressed down by the felt button 38 carried on the outerend of the arm 39 mounted on the movable leaf 40 of the controlpneumatic 41 secured to the panel 22 adjacent the lower end of the valve26.. The leaf 40 is normally held in the raised position shown in Figs.2 and 4 by the usual spring (not shown). The nipple 42 extends from theinside of the pneumatic 41 through the panel 22 to the pipe 43 which isconnected to the pipe 12 as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of my improved attachment is substantially as follows: lVnen the wind-chest 13 is under exhaust pressure from the electric motorexhaust devices 11, the pneumatic 41 is held in collapsed positionthrough the pipe 43 connection, and the button 38 presses down on theend 37 of the spring arm 35. This downward movement of the button 38simultaneously closes the port 23 and the bleed passage 33 by the valves26 and 34 respectively, thereby effectively cutting off the mainreservoir bellows 15 from the wind chest 13. Thereupon the wind-chest 13is directly connected with the action pneumatics 46 through the pipe 20.The valves 26 and 34 remain in their closing position as long as thewind chest 13 is under exhaust pressure from the motor 11 so as toenable the selective control openings 7 in the tracker to regulate tievarying degrees of air tension on the action pneumatics 46 through thereproducer box 10 without drawing air from the main reservoir bellows15. This attachment, it will be observed, enables the expression to bebetter and more readily controlled while the motoroperated exhaustdevices are connected with the player action.

When the motoreilhaust is out 01f from the pipe 12 leading to thewind-chest 13, the spring tensioned leaf 40 immediately raises and thevalve 26 opens the port 23 to connect the main reservoir bellows 15 withthe player action with chest 13, whereby certain notes or passages maybe accented through the action of the pumping bellows 1'? when the motorexhaust devices 11 are cut or therefrom by mechanism that need not behere describec.

The foregoing construction shows a practical form of attachmentembodying the essential principles of my invention, but various changesmay be made in the structural details and arangement of the partswithout departing from the scope of my improvements and withoutsacrificing its chief advantages.

1 claim as my invention:

1. ln a p'neumatically-operated musical instrument, a main reservoirbellows, a wind chest normally connected therewith. means for exhaustingsaid reservoir bellows, a normally open valve controlling communicationbetween said reservoir bellows and said wind-chest, and means actuatedby said exhausting means for closing said valve to completely out 01fsaid main reservoir bellows fro a the wind-chest.

2. In a pneumatically-operated musical instrument, a main reservoirbellows, a windchest normally connected therewith, a motoroperatedexhaust device connected with said reservoir bellows, a normally openvalve controlling communication between said reservoir bellows and saidwind-chest, and means actuated by said exhausting device for closingsaid valve to completely cut oil said main reservoir bellows from thewindchest.

3. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bellows, a player action wind-chest in operative con nectionthere ith, a motor-operated exhaust device indirectly connected withsaid main reservoir bellows, and meanstor completely cutting otl saidmain reservoir bellows from the action windchest while allowing saidaction wind-chest to be connected with said exhaust device.

4. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bel lows, a player action wind-chest in operative connectiontherewith, a motor-operated exhaust device indirectly connected withsaid main reservoir bellows, and means for completely cutting oil saidmain reservoir bellows from the action wind-chest, and connecting saidaction wind-chest with said exhaust device.

5. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bellows, a player action wind-chest in operative connectiontherewith, a motor-operated exhaust device indirectly connected withsaid main reservoir bellows, and means for cutting off said mainreservoir bellows -from the action wind-chest and connecting said actionwindchest with said exhaust device actuated by the pressure in saidexhaust device.

6. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bellows, a prayer action wind-chest in operative con nectiontherewith, a motor-operated exhaust device indirectly connected withsaid main reservoir bellows, and means for completely cutting off saidmain reservoir bellows from the action wind-chest while allowing saidaction wind-chest to be connected with said exhaust device controlledand actuated by the varying pressure in said exhaust device.

7. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bellows, a player action wind-chest, a motor-operated exhaustdevice connected with said main reservoir bellows, an air-port betweensaid main reservoir bellows and action wind-chest with a normally openvalve to close same, and a pneumatic controlled and actuated by saidexhaust device to operate said valve to completely close said air port.

8. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bellows, a player action wind-chest, a motor operated exhaustdevice connected with. said main reservoir bellows, an air-port betweensaid main reservoir bellows and action windchest with a normally openvalve to close same, a pneumatic to actuate said valve, and connectionsbetween said exhaust device and pneumatic whereby said valve closes saidport. completely while said exhaust device is in operation.

9. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir bellows, a player action wind-chest in operative connectionwith said main reservoir bellows, a notor-operated exhaust deviceconnected with said action wind-chest, toot-operated pumping bellowsalso connected with said action wind-chest, and means actuated bysaidmotor exhaust device for automatically and completely cutting ofi'said .main reservoir bellows from the action wind-chest.

10. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument having a mainreservoir b llows, a player action wind-chest in operative connectionwith said main bellows, a motoroperated exhaust device connected withsaid action wind-chest, foot operated pumping bellows also connectedwith said action windchest, and means comprising a pneumaticallycontrolled valve actuated by said motor exhaust device for cutting offsaid main reservoir bellows from the action wind-chest.

11. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a player-actionwind-chest, a reservoir bellows connected therewith, a valve to controlthe tension produced by said reservoir bellows in said actionwind-chest, a bleed passage in said valve having a separate valve toclose same, and a single means for closing both said valves by thetension in said reservoir bellows.

12. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a player-actionwind-chest, av resrvoir bellows connected therewith, a main valve tocontrol the tension produced by said reservoir bellows in said actionwind-chest, a bleed passage in said valve having a separate valve toclose same, and a single means for sequentially closing first saidbleed-passage valve and then said main valve completely by the tensionin said reservoir bellows.

13. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument controlled by aperforated musicsheet, a tracker-bar having pneumatic control openings,connections between said openings and selective reproducing mechanism, amain wind-chest, a player action wind-chest, a main reservoir bellowsconnected with said main wind-chest, a motoroperated exhaust deviceconnected with said main reservoir bellows, and means actuated by saidexhaust device for cutting ott said main reservoir bellows from the mainwindchest whereby said reproducing mechanism may control the air tensionin said player action wind-chest.

14. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument controlled by aperforated musicsheet, a tracker-bar having pneumatic c0ntrol openings,connections between said openings and selective reproducing mechanism, amain wind-chest, a player action windehest, a main reservoir bellowsconnected with said main wind-chest, a motor-operated exhaust deviceconnected with said main reservoir bellows, and means comprising apneumatically controlled valve actuated by said exhaust device forcutting off said main reservoir bellows from the main wind-chest wherebysaid reproducing mechanism may control the air tension in said playeraction Wind-chest.

15. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument controlled by aperforated musicsheet, a trackenbar having pneumatic con trol openings,connections between said openings and selective reproducing mechanism, amain wind-chest, a player action wlnd-chest, a main reservoir bellowsconnected with said action Wind-chest, a motor- 10 operated exhaustdevice connected With said main reservoir bellows, apneumaticallyactuated valve for cutting off said main reservoir bellowsfrom the action Wind-chest controlled by said exhaust device, and directconnections between said reproducing mechanism and said player actionWind-chest.

BEVIER VAN GORDER.

